updated 08:55 am EST, Thu November 5, 2009

Telus HSPA launches with new phones

Telus this morning took its turn at launching its own HSPA+ network and new devices, including the iPhone. It sells the iPhone 3G and both the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS units at the same $100, $200 and $300 prices as at Bell and Rogers on a three-year contract. The plans are slightly different than Bell's and start with a $50 Clear Choice iPhone plan that provides 150 minutes, unlimited evenings and weekends after 9PM and 500MB of data with tethering but supplies the perk of either unlimited local calls and MMS/SMS messaging to five numbers, double the minutes, or 1,000 outbound (unlimited inbound) messages.

A higher-end $65 plan jumps to 250 minutes and 1GB of data. At $80, the perks can include five-number unlimited calling nationwide as well as unlimited messaging on top of 400 minutes and 2GB of data. A $100 plan builds on this with 500 minutes and 3GB of data.

Several additional devices have joined the network and include the first Android phone outside of Rogers: the HTC Hero is an import of the original, rectangular European version of the touchscreen smartphone adapted to North American 7.2Mbps HSPA and has the same Sense UI, 5-megapixel camera, GPS and Wi-Fi as all editions. It costs $100 on a contract.

Also part of the mix are the LG New Chocolate, a North America-ready version of the BL40 and its ultra-narrow touchscreen design that also sells for $100; the BlackBerry Bold 9700, which costs higher than at Bell at $250; the Nokia E71 at $30; and the Sierra Wireless 306, a 21Mbps HSPA+ USB modem that can use a shorter two-year data contract to reach its minimum $80 price.

All of the devices are available to order today. Non-iPhone smartphone plans are identical to those for the Apple devices, while any 3G modem can use data plans that start at $30 for 500MB of monthly usage and scale up to $85 for 5GB.

Competition

Wow ... I don't know what Canadians are supposed to do with all this competition and fierce pricing that these vendors are offering? It's a very cut-throat market; they're killing one another with these prices; I don't know how they're going to survive :-)) I think we might end up with only one carrier after all !!